need med advice for depression/anxiety soon...

Tom,

Medication for depression is for your doctor to determine, not those of us who have taken them. Antidepressants are not all created equally; some target different symptoms of depression. Go to your doctor and he/she will ask you a bunch of questions about your symptoms and will select the right AD for you.

Many of us, myself included, have traveled this road after surgery. The sooner you get medication for depression, the sooner you will start to feel better.

Sue

I can tell you xanax has been a lifesaver for me for the anxiety I have been dealing with since I had the surgeries. You doctor can prescribe this for you, but be careful as it is highly addictive. I do not take anti-depressants for the fear of possible GI bleed.

I can't help you in terms of medication as I have limited experience. I do however suggest along with taking medications you do also talk to a mental health provider. Psychotherapy, has strong evidence for people who experience feelings of depression, anxiety and hopelessness. I would also recommend that you slowly start engaging in activities you find meaningful. It may be hard at first with a lot of pain and fear around the pouch so start small (read a book, listen to music, go for a light walk) even if it means having to do a modified version of things at first. Hope you feel better .

Oh Tom... I so enjoy reading your posts and am truly sorry that you are dealing with depression on top of all this. I lived with severe clinical depression on and off for many years, so I can definitely relate. I can't imagine still dealing with it in addition to everything else we are going through. I feel for you. (((hugs)))

The only drug that worked for me in the past (for my depression, ADD, lethargy, and overeating - 4 birds with one stone) I definitely wouldn't recommend for your situation because it is basically prescription cocaine with all the same side-effects. However, a man I dated and lived with for five years had both depression and anxiety, and Lexapro worked wonders for him. He was calm, rational, positive, and much easier to live with when he was on it. I can't say what drug you should take, but it is one you could ask your doctor about or look into.

My personal feelings on the entire matter is that in most cases medication is good for getting through specific difficult times (like what you're currently going through with surgery and major life/body changes), but that ultimately the underlying root of the depression needs to be addressed and dealt with or you'll be living with it forever. I have gone through all of this myself, and I have actually cured my depression... quite successfully I might add. Like I said, I dealt with severe clinical depression since adolescence, but over time I was eventually able to kick it to the curb. For the past several years I have been very happy and at peace... even through disease and surgery. I'd love to discuss this further with you and help in any way I can. Please email me if you're interested in starting a dialogue or just want someone to talk/vent to who understands. My email address is listed in my profile.

Either way, I'm forever grateful we all have each other on this forum. If it weren't for you all here and the forum I frequent over at Healing Well, I would feel very much alone. No one else truly understands what we are going through.

Look into abilify (2mg) it is usually added to another antidepressent like Effexor or Prozac. The abilify took a week to work but ended my non stop crying. Good luck!

rosie, are you on abilify alone with nothing else?

doc suggests celexa or lexapro for his anxiety/depression patients. can you guys give your experiences with these two meds?

I take Xanax and it's been a lifesaver!

xanax just puts me to sleep. youre lucky. i wish i was that easy...

Just a thought, are your electorite and fluid levels OK. I have dehydration problems and if I skip my electoralite drinks I get lethargic, anxious and everthing just seems so much harder and bleaker. This is despite being on Cilatopram anti-depressents which work well for me.
Caroline

Tom,
I am on 50mg of Effexor twice a day and 2mg of abilify once a day. I have ativan to take in case of a panic attack (quick acting), but I hardly ever use it. I have not noticed any side effects of the abilify, although the ativan makes me sleepy. No side effects with the effexor either for me.

Rosie

I tried Celexa before I tried the Effexor, but switched because I had heard it can give you diarrhea. Not sure if that is true for everyone, but that made me paranoid about taking it. Although now I hear that most side effects diminish after a few weeks. So it might be something to try. You could add the abilify to the Celexa, but your doc would probably make you wait a few weeks until the Celexa was properly in your system.

omg. i took my first dose of celexa and have been having diarrhea ever since. im really depressed now because getting on a med was giving me hope. im seeing my therapist monday but could really use something to hang on to from you guys. im really really in a bad place right now. i know im only 5 weeks out but i hate my new life. i often have my wife and my mom sit with me while i just cry my eyes out. can anyone please give me some hope?

Tom,
Calm down and please listen...some meds take a few days or longer to work while others give you an adverse reaction immediately and still other times it is a mix. Meaning, just because you have diarreha now does not mean that it will keep going...the meds could start to kick in and slow things down a bit for you both physically and emotionally...just go back on to your brat diet...bananas, rice, toast and tea and applesauce...throw in some diet gingerale if you can handle it...organic carbon can help you too so you might want to try it (or just burn some toast, works just fine)...and start drinking carrot juice to slow things down.
Lemons and their juice, contrary to popular belief are not acidic but alkalie in your body and therefore may help you with the acidy output...a homemade lemonaide can help you with the hydration (use fake sugar or stevia to keep the acid level low), acid and runs...you must keep your electrolytes up or you will get even more depressed...so get on that coconut water or whatever you can drink to pick up your numbers.
One of my favorite foods was boiled potatoes with olive oil and salt, full of vitamins and pouch friendly...hang in there...it won't last forever.
Sharon

Potatoes work great for me, as does sourdough toast with a little butter or jam. For me, carrot juice causes extreme diarrhea, as do most juices. I stick to teas and gatorade.

Tom, I have had my j-pouch for about l7 years and it was so painful and I had so many obstructions in the beginning. Keep a journal of what drink/food causes you pain and/or diarrhea. There is a yogurt discussion on another thread and it's helpful with what yogurts and probiotics can do. I really feel for you. It will get better. Keep reading on different threads. I have learned so much here and thank everyone for their comments. SallyJPouch

Sharon, your posts are very helpful. Thank you.

Tom, Hang in there! No matter what happens, you will not feel like this forever. I know that's what it feels like right now, but trust me, "this too shall pass". There is a reason for the saying and it is true. You will get through this. Continue to use this board for support (Aren't these guys the greatest!) and useful tips from those who have gone through this. I can not stress it enough.... YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS! Maybe you can ask your doctor about the celexa and diarrhea and see if he/she has any recommendations or if they think it will only last temporarily. I think it is important that you definitely get on some kind of anti-depressent and give it time to work. I am praying for you and thinking of you.

Rosie

you guys are the best. i just cant take my second dose of celexa tonight. last night was too hellish and i just cant. i feel stuck because now i fear the one thing that will cure my fear. great pickle im in. jeepers...

Tom-

How are you doing with all this since your last post? I read on another thread that you were about to try Wellbutrin? Have you started it, and if so how are you doing on it?

(As I mentioned before, I would have recommend Lexapro for your situation before Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin is a pretty strong stimulant and may not have the best effect on your pouch, so I am curious to hear how it works out...)

i still havent filled the welbutrin now fearing all anti ds. i thought lexapro was very much like celexa and fear it will be another night of hell...

Tom, I've been reading your posts and responses and this could be my story. I had my takedown surgery in June and went through a horrible depression that I never thought I'd come out of. I tried celexa, didn't have good results, it just did nothing for me. Now I'm on Lexapro, Wellbutrin and I take 2mg. of Abilify. I had to take Ativan to get me through until the doctor and I worked out what worked for me. The Ativan helped with my feelings of anxiety about never getting better. I saw a phsychiatrist who finally found the right mix for me. I totally understand how you feel and feel sooo bad for you. I know how scared and low I felt for a long time. As others have said, this too shall pass. Don't be afraid of the medications, you have to give them a try until you find whatt works for you. Unfortunately, these meds take time to see if they are going to work. Be patient, as hard as that is, I know!
You are not alone in this! Please let us know how you are doing,
Katie

Tom,

Lexapro, for me, was NOTHING like Celexa. I have been helped enormously with the Lexapro. Please give it a chance.

You are not alone in all this.

i was wondering if anyone had experience with anti depression meds that didnt cause diarrhea. i know were all different and i have to trial for myself but id rather get a feel from others what has worked for them.

Tom, you'll just have to do the trial and error. If you find that it's causing diarrhea, ask your doctor if you can cut the dosage until your system adjusts. However, I recall that you were taking other things at the same time you were taking the antidepressant so maybe it was the combination. Perhaps you could try the one you have now (in a lower dosage?) and see if it works better. If you try a number of antidepressants you might have to wait longer before you get relief because you'll have to start from the beginning each time.

kathy

i got ya. the night i took the celexa i also took vicodin at the same time. vic never gave me diarrhea before but that was awhile ago. ill cut the celexa in half. thanks...

Vicodin shouldn't cause diarrhea. If anything, it would slow things down.

Good idea to try halving the dose when starting out though.

Jan